VIDEO: 627 hp VW Scirocco + Sweden and Snow = Awesome!

You probably think Sweden is all about IKEA, ABBA and Volvos. Of course you do because, like me, you base all your cultural assumptions on asinine, outmoded stereotypes. Though few would be so willing to admit it, we�ve all done it from time to time, mostly when drunk off our backsides around the family barbie.

So what if I told you the Swedes � well, a few of them anyways � were big into racing stripped out, turbocharged Volkswagen Scirocco�s packing AWD and 627 hp (468 kW)? And not simply racing them but racing them on snow and ice. You heard right, and we have the video to prove it.

Sadly, we don�t know much more about the car and its driver than what we�ve given so far; our Swedish isn�t even as good as our grammatically flawed German and poorly enunciated French. Still, it�s a fun video to watch, and the sonorous sound of the turbo gives me goosebumps all down my back.

Check out the video and leave your comments in the section provided below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: Bilsport via Autoholics

VIDEO

McLaren's MP4-12C GT3 Racer Completes First Tests [with Video]

After a photo preview at the end of last year, the racing version of McLaren's all-new supercar has been revealed in England, where the car undertook its first shakedown tests. Built by McLaren GT, a new company set up by the McLaren Group and CRS Racing, the MP4-12C GT3 had its debut test outings at the MIRA proving ground facility and the Silverstone Circuit.

Based on the standard MP4-12C, the GT3 version uses the same one-piece carbon MonoCell chassis, which weighs just 75 kilograms (165.3 lbs). Spectacular race spec composite body panels and a fixed rear wing have been added to the MP4-12C GT3, while the new aerodynamics package includes a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders.

�The car is around 100mm wider than the standard production car and features a new suspension system which we have tested in the McLaren Simulator. Having now experienced this new set-up in the 12C GT3 car, I�m delighted with the progress we are making,� said Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT project manager. The MP4-12 C GT3 uses the same 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 engine from the road car, tuned to race specification. The unit is linked to an all-new racing gearbox developed by Ricardo and fitted with paddle-shift system.

The tests were a good occasion for McLaren to introduce its newest test driver, 26-year-old Alvaro Parente, with the company planning to have a team of six test drivers by mid-2011. The shakedown will be followed by comprehensive tests scheduled throughout March and April at a number of FIA certified circuits across Europe. Details about the driver line-up and race programme for the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will be revealed after these tests. Starting next year, McLaren GT will also supply and support a limited number of FIA GT3-compliant racing cars for privateers.

By Dan Mihalascu

VIDEO

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Fire Breathing BMW 46.0-liter V12-Powered Brutus Will Scare Even the Bravest Kids

The story goes that right after World War 2, some crazy Germans decided to craft a one-of-a-kind racecar built around a BMW V12 engine made for airplanes: a 1925 46.0-liter 12-cylinder unit, to be precise. There was no a shortage of these kind of engines in that era, since Germany wasn't allowed to own any military aircrafts.

They had a problem however: the engine tipped the scales at 510 kg (1,124 lbs) and was huge measuring 1.8 meters long, 1.1 meters tall and 0.87 meters wide. Finding a proper chassis was difficult, but they managed to get hold of a 1908 American LaFrance car that could withstand the weight of the beast. It took the builders several years to complete the car, which was manufactured in a workshop belonging to the Auto & Technik Museum in Sinsheim and was given the name Brutus.

According to the museum, the engine puts out 500 horsepower at 1,500 rpm, while other sources claim 750 hp at 1,700 rpm (for only one minute). Its fuel consumption is 1 liter/km (2.35 mpg), hence the huge fuel tank, and the car is said to comfortably cruise at speeds of over 100 km/h (62 mph) at just 800 rpm.

The BMW Brutus is owned by the Sinsheim Museum in Germany where it can be seen today. Since it's hard to find accurate data about the Brutus, we'd appreciate it if any of you happen to know more about the car, dropped us a comment below.

By Dan Mihalascu

Sources: Sinsheim Museum , Blogautomobile , BMWblog

VIDEOS

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 is the Latest Addition to the AMG Driving Academy

The AMG Driving Academy just got a little more interesting with the announcement that in 2011, fans will be able to get behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 race car. The V8-powered competition coupe will be available in the most advanced skill level programme, the Masters, which consists of four stages: Experience, Warm-up, Training and Competition.

The first leg takes three hours and includes a driving session with the road version of the SLS AMG, followed by an introduction and a seated �rehearsal�. After that, participants get to drive the SLS AMG GT3 on the track behind a lead vehicle. In the end, a professional racing driver gives them a ride in the same car.

The Experience stage is open to everyone, but in order to be allowed in the following stages, entrants must complete race track training sessions. The Warm-up and Training are more complex and intended to gradually familiarize participants with the controls of the race car and to teach them how to drive on slick racing tyres.

The Competition part is where AMG fans will get all the action. Expected to start at the end of 2012, this stage will consist of individual and team races, in which contestants will drive either the SLS AMG GT3 (booking prices per event start at �1,500/$2070), or their own cars.

First deliveries of the customer racing oriented SLS AMG GT3 are due in March 2011, with the net starting price being �334,000 ($461,500), or �397,460 ($550,500) with German added value tax included.

By Dan Mihalascu

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BMW to Fight Audi and Mercedes with Six M3 Race Cars in the German Touring Car Championship

BMW's Motorsport division announced today that it will enter six M3 race cars in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) starting from the 2012 season. The Bavarian company will be represented in the highly competitive championship by three teams, each entering two cars. The chosen teams are long-term partners BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW Team RBM, plus the newcomer Reinhold Motorsport GmbH.

Development of the M3 DTM car has been running at full speed in Munich for the past few months, with the first track tests are scheduled to begin this month. �The concepts presented by BMW Team RBM, BMW Team Schnitzer and Reinhold Motorsport GmbH ultimately convinced us. This is an excellent team line-up for BMW. For us, it is important that all three teams have absolute equal rights. We are looking forward to cooperating over the coming years � and hope to enjoy great success together,� said BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen.

No announcement has been made regarding the BMW driving line-up for the DTM. Of the three teams, only Schnitzer was part of BMW's DTM participation in the 80's and early 90's, winning the 1989 title.

BMW was officially involved in the DTM between 1987 and 1992, winning two titles with the M3 E30 in 1987 and 1989, with drivers Eric van de Poele and Roberto Ravaglia respectively. Before that, private team Gubin won the inaugural 1984 DTM season with Volker Strycek behind the wheel of a 635CSi.

By Dan Mihalascu

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VIDEO: Norwegian Ice Racing Puts Four to the Fjord

If there�s one motorsport event that�s least likely to see the light of day in Australia, its winter track days. We just don�t have the climate for it. Norway, on the other hand, is perfect for these sorts of things. All you need is some snow tires, the right sort of car (either AWD or RWD) and a large enough area of snow and ice.

From modern day Porsche 911�s to decades old 944�s, from Subaru WRX STi�s to Fiat Panda�s and even what looks to be a Tesla Roadster; these events attract all sorts both young and old, novice and experienced drivers alike. Filmed on a frozen lake called Tisleifjorden in Norway, this video has enough action to keep even the staunchest of ice racing fans happy.

Click through for the video or leave your piece in the comments section below. We�d also love to hear about any experiences you - the readers - have had with racing on ice or snow. Come on now, don�t be shy!

By Tristan Hankins

VIDEO

Skoda Introduces Fabia R2 Rally Car for the Masses

The VW Group�s Czech subsidiary Skoda has unveiled the Fabia R2, a new race-spec mode intended for the popular R2 rally category. Based on the series production Fabia, the R2 features significant changes to the engine, chassis, suspension and gearbox.

Compared to the road car, the Fabia R2 has a rally-tuned suspension and a modified chassis, while the engine is a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline unit with 16 valves that develops 132 kW (177 horsepower) and 194 Nm of peak torque (143 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed sequentially operated gearbox made by Sadev, with the electronics coming from Italian specialist Magneti-Marelli.

�It�s great that from now on, we�re offering a rally vehicle for a wider range of customers looking for a reliable and affordable race car. Given our successful tradition and development in motor sports beyond the Czech Republic, the new Fabia R2 is just a logical result of our activities,� said Jan Hurt, Skoda manager for sales and marketing for the Central and Eastern European region.

The car was developed, tested and prepared for rallies for almost two years, with the help of motor sports specialist Impromat Car, which will also assume the distribution of the vehicle.

The Skoda Fabia R2 has received the FIA homologation and can participate in rallies right away, but not before the owner pays a purchase price of �62,000 or about $86,200 at today�s exchanges rates.

By Dan Mihalascu

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